Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-12-15

Cun'el want tryin' to git well. wur
hankerin' AFTER that track OF brush
ground 'longside the Piney ridge fur a
cattle range. Hits only thousand
acre bit NV Ian, en- turn for sale, but |
hain't got no higher to gittin' hit, en-
that's wen DildY's fodder. The
Cun'el seemed like he hoped me to
want that ar range some day. Hill
be wuth a fortn, joe says he; git hit
eff you kin. WANT no kinder use
atellin' me that, kase l wanted that
Ian bad enough; hits fur sale yit;
dunno es I'll ever hcv the luck to own
hit. Jes' afo' he died, bout a couple
NV weeks, the Cun'el sent fur me en-
seq: Joe Craddeck, you've been my
friend wen | hadn't none. | hain't
gwinc to git well, en- dunno es l keer,
but heah's sommut es will buy that
thousand-acre track; do you go on that
Ian en- no other, fur Dildy-mind you.
this ere's fur Dildy'-he stretch out
his han en- guy me suthin'."
"Was it the pin?" inquired.
"Twa'n't nuthin' else, stranger"
the mountaineer retorted, with grim,
contemptuous smile. "W'en l KEN to
look he'd put the buzzom pin in my
han. Every day he'd watch me KEN
in from shootin' pa't'idges, en- AK me
fust, 'Hev You bought hit3' Seemed
like he'd sot heart on me sellin' his
buzzom pin en- buyin' that ar land. |
hedn't the heart to dissap'int him, so l
said, I've done bought hit, Cun'el,
Fur Dildy, don't you furgit that--fur
Dildy,' he KEEP tellin' me-"
"Why did you not buy the landP' I
inquired. 81 have no doubt it would
have been good purchase.
"Jes' so, stranger, t'were fust rate
cattle ranch, but the Cun'el mus a
been out of his head to think a scrap
of shiny glass would buy pip's wuth
of anything" was the dry response,
as if the mountaineer pitied and
laughed at the hallucination. II guy
it over to Dildy, en- she wouldn't sell
hit for nuthin' savin' book-she's
pow'ful fond of readin' sense the
preacher at the cross roads larnt her
how to read"
The man laughed low, dry laugh
and nodded toward the girl. Dildy
was surreptitiously reading an illus
trated paper resurrected from week S
burial in the bottom of my game bag
She laid it down and blushed hotly.
81 have been careful not to spoil it,
SIR" she said, timidly, 'Ithought you
wouldn't mind it if looked at it.
"You shall have it and welcome"
The color deepened in the pretty
cheeks; the beautiful eyes glowed
"Would you like to go to town."
II would rather stay here with plenty
of books"
But you have books and every thing
else in town." urged.
al have every thing here except
books was the simple resp onse, with
a satisfied, mirthful smile.
Ismoked final pipe out under the
stars and thought of Dildy. Here is n
girl" reflected, with what would be
a small fortune for her, longing for
books as an unattainable treasure"
Chaotic plans and suggestions shot
through my mind, with Dildy as
central fgure-pretty, blushing, unso-
phisticated Dildy-contented Dildy. A
strange reluctance held me silent
waited until morning to shatter the
novel happiness of content. Dawn was
reddening the misty crests of the noun
tain ridges when I stepped out into the
fresh morning air.
"Mawnin stranger" politely greeted
Craddeck. Dildy glanced round from
the over-hanging launches of an ole
brindle COW, and smiled without stop
ping her milking. Stranger, jest yor
look over to t'other ridge. That's tn,
Piney ridge, an thurs the track NV
Ian the Cum ell wanted me to buy wild 6
bit er shiny glass"
followed Craddeck's index fngcl
with my eye.
! Hits that blackish-lookin' yeth this
side that passed. NV pines"
Viewed from my standpoint, the
: place looked brushy, ragged and bar
: rem.
"Why did the Colonel especial,
want that land for Dildyp" l inquired
"Dunno es kin tell you, savin' hit
: cheaper than lower down; but hits fiv,
: hundred dollars-en no good a-wishin
fur hit-dunno but 'twould be q pow
: full bother havin' so much Ian savin
t fur stock"
IF you had the money you could nj
: doubt purchase better land nearer I,
you?" suggested.
: Thurs a sight NV lam, but hit cost
5 double, en- guy the Cun'el my say so
' to git that fur Dildy-on'y the Cun'e
t wur sick en- thought bit NV glass mou
t tex somebody's eye," and Joe Grad
deck tore off a quid of tobacco from
. huge twist in his pocket and slowly pu
: it in his mouth-that same grim amuse
S ment in his keen, clear eyes.
n Evidently the mountaineer regards
s this legacy to Dildy half in kindly pity
:. half in jest
n THE Colonel knew better than an
one else about that gem" began wa
r rily. THAT shiny bit of glass is wort
more than enough to buy ten sue
k tracts"
d Naturally, the ''Cun'ers" beliefin tn
n value Of the pin having been so long
e matter of scorn, l found it difficult I
! convince Craddeck of the truth. Hi
;, skepticism was pervaded by a yer